AUGUST 1st
Vanity Fair stopped by today, attempting for a interview with me again. She had a camera crew with her, for the website. Pepper and Happy were ready to call the cops but I stopped them. I had Pepper help put makeup on my face. Make me look pretty for them. She wanted dirt; I gave her the best damn interview she ever got.
I let a single tear roll down my face as I told her about how Dad visited me in the hospital when I was five. When she asked about my Mother I told her my Dad was both "mother and father to me."
She asked about the weapons manufacturing. I told her "Dad's only goal was to make the world a better place."
She asked for any updates on Dad. I told her he was alive, how the government had heard rebels were holding him somewhere. She wanted more details but I panicked. Like what if that was true? What if there were rebels holding my dad hostage and they saw my lies and they were like 'oh no we must kill him now.'
I started to cry. I remember what Phil had said. "People are more concern about the fact he left behind a billion dollar company. No one cares about me, or how it's affecting me."
Vanity Fair asked, "How is it affecting you?"
"I just want my dad back." I said before actually extremely crying. Pepper shooed them out, Happy carried me to bed.
AUGUST 2nd
The video is currently viewed with several million views and counting. Time listed it as "as effective as FDR'S 'the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." speech. I think they're overreacting to it. I mean, all I did was speak about my Dad.
Stocks are fifty dollars each. They've never been that high before. We've never sold that many before either.
AUGUST 7th
I met with the board today via videoconference. They want me to still be heavily involved like my dad was. Obie didn't seem too please. He's been gunning for major control. Like why? Afterword's, Pepper took me up to the school today, help sign up for classes, and go shopping for my new uniform. I miss Dad.
AUGUST 12th
Started school again. It's nice. I'm in the fifth grade, which is incredible because we're ruling the school. Dad would have enjoyed it. Next year is middle school. I want to join the gymnastics team, but there aren't any openings until December. I think I saw a flyer for a robotics class. I had a dream Dad flew home in a giant robot suit.
AUGUST 15th
I told Pepper that if it turns out that my dad is dead, I want Rhody to have full custody of me. I don't want to ever see my Mom again. Pepper says its extreme, but mom's been talking mean about dad to the press, just so her name stays relevant. Miss you dad.
AUGUST 18th
Something's happened in the area where Dad went missing. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!
AUGUST 19TH
Pepper pulled me out of school around 11 today. "They found him!" I started crying, and my legs felt like Jell-O, that Pepper had to hold me until the legs stop shaking. He's in Germany; apparently he was hurt during his time in captivity. He's flying back tomorrow, after his final debriefing. I called Phil to let him know. He told me congratulations.
AUGUST 20TH
WE'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE TO PICK HIM UP YAYYYYYYYYYYY, HIS PLANE IS ABOUT TO LAND PEPPER AND I ARE LEAVING THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER
AUGUST 21st
Pepper took me to the airfield where he was. He had an arm in a sling but HE WAS HOME HE WAS HOME. He talked with Pepper for a second, because she was crying all the way there. And then he saw me and he hugged me so tight, he even picked me up! He walked back to the car carrying me like I was five again! Pepper worried about him and said we needed to go to a hospital and for him to stop carrying me, but Obie had apparently arranged a news conference for him. Dad said I had to honor previous commitments and that was 'a life lesson.' But he wanted to stop for burgers, which seemed fair. He bought like five hundred burgers! We got extra large fries and a really big soda! Pepper didn't say anything; I think she was happy to have him back. He told me how he had seen the interview with me on the flight back. He told me how grownup I looked and how proud he was of me handling the entire situation.
Then things got...weird. When we got to the news conference he made everyone sit on the floor. Be more comfortable. Then he announced that stark industries was leaving the weapons business.
Apparently, this entire time I thought Vanity Fair was lying about the weapons, but I was very wrong. I saw Phil in the back talking with Pepper but I didn't get to hear what they said.
We got home; And Dad went down into his lab. I crawled upstairs into his room and fell asleep on his bed. He crawled in next to me. I tried to rest my head on his chest like I normally do but there was something... something there. He has a blue thing on his chest. He told me it was keeping him alive. I told him I was "very glad he was alive." he smiled; he looked like he was about to cry. He kept kissing and rubbing my forehead, telling me how much he loved me. Apparently when he was held captive, he was held captive with this other guy, who had lost his family. Dad didn't want to put me in any danger so he kept trying to play it cool, like he didn't have any kids. This guy died trying to free Dad. He told Dad as he was dying he was finally going to see his family again. That shook Dad to the core. He didn't want to die and leave me alone.
I woke up in my own room. Dad had carried me and tucked me in, trying to do normal stuff. But things can't be normal again, can't they?
AUGUST 23rd
Dad dropped me off at school today. He insisted on doing it. Of course, then he had to spend the first hour talking about him being captured to all the other kids. I told him he didn't have to stay, but he insisted. He said it brought him joy. Happy says we should do whatever Dad asks him too, because 'your dad's been through a lot during the last couple of months." He's going to court today, Mom attempted to file something saying he wasn't mentally fit to take care of me. I hate when they fight. Pepper just texted me, told me that Dad said no more shrink sessions. Thank goodness! Last time the guy asked if the trip to Paris was painful because 'it brought up my abandonment issues I had with my Mom" and that confused me because she didn't abandon me, did she?
AUGUST 25TH
I think Obie's acting weird around Dad. Like he's all happy he's home and stuff but then his eyes get angry when he thinks' he's by himself. Like I don't know why, he just does. Why would Uncle Obie be mad that Dad's home?
Also update from yesterday: Dad showed paperwork he got in Germany saying that he was okay mentally (Pepper says that's a lie, Dad's never been right in the head) and that I can still stay with him.